High flow aerosol blending

Abstract

Provided herein are devices, systems, and methods for introducing a nebulized medication into breathing gas for respiratory therapy. An apparatus includes a reservoir to contain a volume of medication, a vibrating mesh disposed at a reservoir outlet of the reservoir to receive a flow of the medication from the reservoir and output a flow of nebulized medication, a mixing chamber having a gas inlet to receive a flow of breathing gas from a gas source, and a nebulizer inlet to receive the flow of nebulized medication from the vibrating mesh, where the vibrating mesh is disposed between the nebulizer inlet and the reservoir outlet. The apparatus can include a pressure tap tube or other implement in fluid communication with the mixing chamber and the reservoir to selectively equalize pressure between the mixing chamber and a headspace in the reservoir above the volume of medication.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An adaptor for introducing a nebulized medication into breathing gas for respiratory therapy, the adaptor comprising:
 a reservoir adapted to contain a volume of medication;   a vibrating mesh disposed at a reservoir outlet of the reservoir and adapted to receive a flow of the medication from the reservoir and output a flow of nebulized medication;   a mixing chamber having:
 a gas inlet adapted to receive a flow of breathing gas from a gas source; 
 a nebulizer inlet adapted to receive the flow of nebulized medication from the vibrating mesh, the vibrating mesh being disposed between the nebulizer inlet and the reservoir outlet; 
 an internal volume in fluid communication with the gas inlet and the nebulizer inlet and adapted to allow for mixing of the flow of breathing gas and the flow of nebulized medication to produce a flow of mixed gas; and 
 a mixed gas outlet in fluid communication with the internal volume and adapted to output the flow of mixed gas; and 
   a pressure tap tube in fluid communication with the mixing chamber via a first end of the pressure tap tube and the reservoir via a second end of the pressure tap tube, such that a gas in the pressure tap tube bypasses the nebulizer inlet and vibrating mesh to selectively equalize pressure between the mixing chamber and a headspace in the reservoir above the volume of medication.   
     
     
         2 . The adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the second end of the pressure tap tube comprises a connector sized to couple to a port of the reservoir in a sealingly manner and adapted to convey gas from the pressure tap tube into the headspace. 
     
     
         3 . The adaptor of  claim 2 , wherein the connector is a rubber plug having an inner lumen. 
     
     
         4 . The adaptor of  claim 2 , further comprising a receiver sized to couple to the connector of the second end of the pressure tap tube, the receiver being isolated from the reservoir such that gas does not flow through the pressure tap tube when the connector is coupled to the receiver. 
     
     
         5 . The adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir comprises a valve adapted to couple to the second end of the pressure tap tube. 
     
     
         6 . The adaptor of  claim 5 , wherein the valve is one of a solenoid valve, a diaphragm valve, or a needle valve. 
     
     
         7 . The adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure tap tube is integrally formed in a wall connecting the reservoir to the mixing chamber, the wall at least partially defining the nebulizer inlet and positioned adjacent to the vibrating mesh. 
     
     
         8 . The adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the reservoir further comprises a medication inlet adapted to receive a refill flow of medication into the reservoir from a medication source. 
     
     
         9 . The adaptor of  claim 8 , wherein the medication inlet comprises a sealing plug adapted. 
     
     
         10 . The adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the pressure tap tube comprises a lumen having an internal diameter between 0.01 in and 0.03 in. 
     
     
         11 - 43 . (canceled) 
     
     
         44 . The adaptor of  claim 1 , further comprising a controller operatively coupled to the gas source and adapted to:
 adjust the flow of breathing gas from a first flow rate to a second flow rate, the second flow rate being lower than the first flow rate.   
     
     
         45 . The adaptor of  claim 44 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the flow of breathing gas to the first flow rate during a high flow period and to the second flow rate during a low flow period. 
     
     
         46 . The adaptor of  claim 45 , wherein the low flow period is synchronized with at least an inspiratory phase of breathing of a patient. 
     
     
         47 . The adaptor of  claim 45 , wherein the high flow period is synchronized with an expiratory phase of breathing of a patient. 
     
     
         48 . The adaptor of  claim 45 , wherein the low flow period occurs immediately before the inspiratory phase or immediately after the inspiratory phase. 
     
     
         49 . The adaptor of  claim 45 , wherein the gas inlet further comprises a first valve and wherein the mixed gas outlet comprises a second valve, wherein the first valve and second valve are closed while the flow of breathing gas is at the first flow rate, and wherein the first valve and second valve are open while the flow of breathing gas is at the second flow rate. 
     
     
         50 . The adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the adapter is configured to provide the breathing gas at a flow rate between 8 LPM and 60 LPM. 
     
     
         51 . The adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the mixed gas outlet is in fluid communication with a nasal cannula to deliver the flow of mixed gas to a patient. 
     
     
         52 . The adaptor of  claim 1 , wherein the breathing gas is a humidified breathing gas.